Authorities Warn About Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement Officials

Cortland County Sheriff’s officials say they have been getting a lot of complaints lately about men and women calling residents telling them they are going to be arrested for money laundering or drug trafficking unless they send money to a desired location.

Officials say the scam begins with the caller saying they are a government law enforcement official, even reciting a case identification number.  They then tell the would-be victim they need to put money on some kind of gift card.  They tell the resident to give them the numbers on the back of the gift card.  If they are successful, the scammer will then begin to request U.S. currency be sent to their specified location.

Authorities remind residents that real government officials, like police, would never call people demanding money be placed on a gift card or ask anyone to pay cash directly.

Anyone who gets one of these calls should contact their local law enforcement agency.